Thursday Tip-Off: Can Ohio State regain its swag?

Jan. 23, 2014
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Ohio State Buckeyes forward Sam Thompson (12) and center Trey McDonald (55) sit on the bench in the final moments of their loss to the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Nebraska won 68-62. / Bruce Thorson, USA TODAY Sports

by Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports

by Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports

THE FIRST WORD: It doesn't matter what sport you're in. Losing is contagious. That's been the case for Ohio State in a recent four-game skid that's included three on the road. "It's like there's this black cloud over us, " said Ohio State point guard Aaron Craft, who has 19 turnovers during the losing stretch. The Buckeyes started off 15-0 and were once the No. 2 team in the country.

Yet their 2-4 stance in the Big Ten is a hole they'll need to climb out of, and one they'll need to come out of fast. Thad Matta's group returns home to host an Illinois team (13-6, 2-4) tonight (7 p.m., ESPN) that's in a very similar dilemma. Just as Wisconsin has found out - the Badgers were once undefeated but own three losses and are .500 in conference play - winning in the Big Ten, especially on the road, isn't easy. The last time the Buckeyes started 0-4 was in the 1997-98 season.

Craft (9.2 ppg, 4.9 apg) needs to step up offensively and stuff the unselfish card in his back pocket. He scored six points in a loss to Iowa and seven in a loss to Minnesota. LaQuinton Ross has emerged as the team's best offensive catalyst, but the offense can't all go through him in halfcourt offense when the team isn't forcing turnovers. Lenzelle Smith Jr., OSU's second scoring option, has shot 33% in the past two losses. Clearly, it's a confidence thing. Playing at home could be the perfect recipe for a bounce-back win, but taking John Groce's squad lightly would be a costly mistake. To get back to its winning ways, Ohio State must thrive off its defense and ride its homecourt to withstand any offensive lulls. Otherwise, this could get even uglier.

BEST BET TONIGHT: No. 6 Florida (15-2, 4-0 Southeastern Conference) has quietly climbed the rankings, and the Gators have shown themselves to be the class of the SEC, which, granted, has been underwhelming this season. Among those struggling is Alabama (8-9, 2-2), which hosts Florida today (7 p.m., ESPN2 ET). The Crimson Tide will have to rein in Casey Prather, a 6-6 senior who leads the Gators offense (17.3 points per game).

ALSO ON DECK TONIGHT: Other marquee games to watch tonight. All times Eastern.

- Colorado at Arizona (9 p.m., ESPN2)

- UCF at Cincinnati (9 p.m., CBS Sports Network)

- Houston at Memphis (8 p.m., ESPNews)

- Utah at Arizona State (9 p.m., Pac-12 Network)

- San Diego at Gonzaga (10 p.m., ESPNU)

- Stanford at UCLA (11 p.m., Pac-12 Network)

- Oregon at Washington (11 p.m., FOX Sports 1)

WORDS OF THE DAY: "Every game, every day that they move forward from the injury (to leading scorer Spencer Dinwiddie, a torn anterior cruciate knee ligament), the more sure of themselves, the more together they'll be. They'll bceom a better team. Initially, it's hard, because you're introducing guys to new roles, but Tad Boyle is an excellent coach, obviously. Every time we've played Colorado it's been a terrific game." - Arizona coach Sean Miller, speaking of his Wildcats' matchup with Colorado tonight (9 p.m., ET, ESPN2).